Log trailer



L. JOHNSTO N LOG TRAILER:

May 18, 1926. V 1,584,862

Filed August 22, 1925 2 Sheets-She et 1 INVENTOR.

z f wnn BY pi) ATTORNEY Patented ll iey 18, 1926.

tittl'lhlh LEONARD JOHNSTON, F BELFAIR, WASHINGTON.

LOG TRAILER.

Application filed August 22, 1925. Serial No. 51,851.

This invention is directed to an improvement in trailers, designed particularly fol use with motor driven vehicles and adapted more particularly for load carrying under difficult or adverse road conditions.

The invention has for its object the production of a trailer constructed with a view to permit such complete flexibility of the front axle with respect to load carrying structure as will compensate for irregularities in road construction and will avoid unusual and unexpected movements of the draft vehicle from being communicated to the load supporting structure of the trailer.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan of the improved trailer.

Fig. is a side elevation of same.

Fig. is an end elevation of same.

Fig. i is a longitudinal section on line 4% of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the universal connection.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the front axle universal connection with the axle in section.

The improved trailer comprises a front axle 1 preferably circular in transverse section and centrally enlarged at 2, the axle carrying the usual ground wheels A king pin 4 of appropriate length and diameter is fol-fined at the lower end as a somewhat enlar d ball 5, and the enlarged portion 2 of t front axle is formed *ith dedressions thus to receive the ball. This depression is of semi-spherical form in its lower portion and merges into a cylinr rical socket at the upper open end of a size to permit the introduction of the ball. A cover plate 7' secured to the axle by clips 8 overlies the ball and is formed with an opening 9 through which the king pin passes whereby the king pin is mounted for universal movement with respect to the axle, limited only in this respect by a cover plate 7. The trailer includes a rear axle 1O having ground wheels 11 and a load supporting structure 12. This load supporting structure is made up of spaced frame members which in plan converge from the rear to the front axle, and which in side elevation have a horizontal portion 13 overlying the front axle, a horizontal portion 14 overlying the rear axle on a plane below the horizontal portion. 13, a load supportge he pin.

ing intermediate portion 15 which by reason of upwardly pro ected inclined portions 16 inwardly of the respective axles is arranged in a plane materially above the horizontal plane of the end portions. The load sup porting structure is adapted for rigid or movable action with the king pin 4, including for this purpose upper and lower bearing plates 17 and 18, the whole of which rests upon a collar 19 secured on the king pin with an interposed bearing washer 20.

Each frame bar of the load supporting structure is made up of upper and lower sections 21 and 22, and each of the sections are made up of similar angle bars and 2 with their similar flanges embracing and secured to a tie plate 25 and their remaining flanges in alinement to provide a broad hearing surface. The plate 25 of course defines and distinguishes between the bearing plates 17 and 18 and the upper bearing plate 17 is secured in position on the king pin by a nut 28 engaging the upper threaded end of said Each frame bar of the load supporting structure is thus made up of four angle iron strips connected by an intermediate plate so that the upper portion of the frame bar acts to directly support the load while the lower portion acts as an effective brace therefor.

A load receiving bed plate 27 is secured transverse the portions 15 of the load receiving tractor. This bed plate is further braced beyond the upper frame bars by a bace strip 28 secured to the lower frame bars 22, and extending beyond the supporting structure and underlying the bed plate adjacent the ends thereof. The bed plate. if desired, may be provided with the usual stops 29 which may be movable and adjust able as is usual in this type of device for holding the load in transportation and permitting it to be applied to or removed from the bed plate.

The bed plate may be provided with any convenient means such as indicated at 30 for receiving and conveniently handling the load. I

The trailer is provided with draft beams 31 for divergent rear bars 32 which are secured by straps 38 to blocks 3 f freely movable about the circular front axle 1, so that the draft beam is capable of free swinging relation to the axle in a vertical direction. The forward end of the draft beam is provided with an opening to receive a connectar from the tractor or other draft vehicle so that free lateral play between the d art vehicle and the trailer is permitted a this eonnertion.

From ll 0 above deseriptien it will lie apparenl llia; through the daft connections vertical and lateral pla is permitted l).- lnren i'lae l'raeurr and that by t nnir val convert" porting" rim-r a1 axle a very mat i the l'rnnt axle, inc d merit of the tr-aster, will lie pernnrted i out disturbing tlte normal pesiion load carryin strurlure.

Claims:

1. In a trailer a \VlllQl structure i1 a front and rear axle and oad sap frame having a central raised load portion and emuprislng enl side l ra nos, a king bolt about which side frames are rigidly connected, and universal mounting between the king bolt and front axle.

2. In a trailer a wheel structure inc-luv l;l -tween the load 1 trailer and ti 1 amount 01' 111:.

ing a front and rear a. :le and load eupportrergent side Ira-rules, a king lmlt almnt \'\'lll('ll l ms are i'i fllff r1; merled. and (l mounting law ll-1 l ing lmlt e mid i'ranle rm]: 1;; madr l-m'rr 1l'i0125;(*a? inr-lnd- Ilil mlpporb 'l hear- A. MA

int axle, said 'i'rame lHlI'S wig made extending sgnatare. 

